Earth's Landscape: An Encyclopedia of the World's Geographic Features

Gr 10 Up—Offering brief descriptions and explanations of 460 examples of the world's diverse landscapes, these volumes are an introduction to patterns and processes of physical geography. Arranged alphabetically, the entries contain geographic overviews, geographic coordinates, geological history, biota, protected areas, environmental issues, and suggestions for further reading. Many entries are cross-referenced. Topics include the seven continents, oceans, islands, and coral reefs. A highlight of the volumes is three appendixes. Appendix 1 presents lists of the top 10 extreme features in several categories, such as highest mountains, while Appendix 2 features a set of opposing viewpoints on six topics related to natural features, and Appendix 3 is a set of activities and discussion questions for students to use outside the classroom. Black-and-white photographs and sidebars are scattered throughout. The authors recommend that readers consult a good atlas in tandem with this encyclopedia. Overall these volumes are an intriguing collection of facts and data and the alphabetical listings make it an easy-to-use reference.